Today, the tune “Selamat Berhari Raya” remains a popular staple on the airwaves and at open houses during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The song, Rahimah Rahim, a pop diva of the 1970s and 1980s, was released in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebrations in 1989.
It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other Aidilfitri tunes such as Sudirman Arshad’s “Balik Kampung”, P Ramlee’s “Dendang Perantau” and M Nasir’s “Satu Hari Di Hari Raya”.
“Selamat Berhari Raya” tells of the joy of celebrating Aidilfitri while calling on merrymakers to remember those who may be grieving over the loss of loved ones during the season.
In a recent interview with FMT, Fauzi said he had already envisioned Rahimah’s singing style when he began composing the tune, making it easy for him to do it so quickly.
His personal criteria is that he must know the singers and their style to enable him to write the best lyrics and melodies for them.
Through the voices of stars like Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, Sharifah Aini, Sudirman, Anita Sarawak and Sheila Majid, some of his songs have also become hits.
Fauzi said every song he composes is crafted for a specific singer. “If it’s a song for Jamal Abdillah, it is exclusively for him. I have never given a singer a (previously written but still unreleased) song from the locker,” he said.
He said that for the song “Selamat Berhari Raya”, all he did was pick up the guitar “and it was done in just a while”.
“When I pick up an instrument, the songs just come. (I see) it as a God-given talent,” he added.
Among other songs he has written for Aidilfitri are “Setahun Sekali”, sung by Amy Mastura and “Ku Pulang Setiap Raya” by Ayai Ilusi.
Fauzi, who turns 69 in September, began his journey in the music scene nearly five decades ago by joining the Chandran Gutta group shortly before becoming the guitarist for the band Discovery at the age of 19.
It was on this platform that he began to shine as a recording artiste and producer.
Apart from EMI Music Malaysia, his songs have also been recorded by artistes at the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and Abbey Road Studios in London.
He was the artistes and repertoire manager at EMI Malaysia from 1983 to 1992, during which time he won many awards like the coveted Anugerah Juara Lagu and Music Authors’ Copyright Protection Award.
Fauzi has since called time on his songwriting career, saying it is time for the new generation of producers and artistes to release songs that will compete with the evergreens composed in his time.
“I’ve already crafted songs that not only suited my time, but remain relevant to this day. I’m satisfied. I think even the children and grandchildren of the younger generation will still be playing these songs,” he added.